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Post by 18majors on Jun 24, 2019 18:21:54 GMT
In Gee didn't have a great finish, but she should be pretty happy with her week. Four solid rounds, no major foul ups, and long off the tee. I'm encouraged. Whatever In Gee has changed is coming to a head; first and most is the driving distance. She averaged 254 yards at KPMG, longer than So Yeon, Jin Young, Lydia and Inbee. Her remaining challenge is approach shot to the green; she's currently No. 47 in GIR and No. 62 in putts per GIR. She continues to scramble well; No. 26 in total putts. When she played well before, she used to be inside top 5 in putts per GIR.
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Post by legitimategolf on Jun 24, 2019 19:02:25 GMT
I liked seeing Sung Hyun Park in the scorer’s tent. Most of the time on the course (and what the public sees on tv) she comes across as cold and unapproachable. Yeah, and that's actually why I like her. On a related note, that NBC broadcast was so cutie-patootie and condescending and sexist. They really treat the LPGA like it's a bunch of a little girls. They stop (just) short of patting players on the head and saying "Well aren't you precious"
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Post by jumpcut on Jun 24, 2019 21:24:51 GMT
The NY Times' Karen Crouse finally drops her main-stream-media postmortem on the state of the LPGA. Don't get your hopes up...she begins and ends her article with several paragraphs on the next saviour of the tour: Maria Fassi. Whan is making a huge tactical error letting the PGA Tour negotiate on the LPGA's behalf for their next media deal. It might save Whan a ton of effort over negotiating a deal himself, but the PGA Tour is thinking about themselves #1, Champions #2, Web.com #3 and the LPGA gets the scraps. Whan is the eternal optimist. According to the Crouse article, "He expressed confidence that the PGA Tour would leverage its star power to gain better TV exposure for the L.P.G.A." Same lipstick-on-a-pig with the ANA. After a 42% year-over-year ratings decline, he's still shilling that the ANWA can be good for the ANA keeping the same dates. L.P.G.A. Has an Abundance of Stars but Scarcely a Stagewww.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/sports/golf/lpga-stars-tv-coverage.htmlBest highlight from the article: If the objective is to expose the largest possible audience to women’s golf — to capitalize on its emerging young superstars to reel in the casual sports fan — there would seem to be better outlets than a cable network catering to an existing market. Golf Channel might as well be selling chocolate to chocoholics.
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Post by 18majors on Jun 24, 2019 21:56:33 GMT
The NY Times' Karen Crouse finally drops her main-stream-media postmortem on the state of the LPGA. Don't get your hopes up...she begins and ends her article with several paragraphs on the next saviour of the tour: Maria Fassi. L.P.G.A. Has an Abundance of Stars but Scarcely a Stagewww.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/sports/golf/lpga-stars-tv-coverage.htmlA great article! Can Maria Fassi be the second Nancy Lopez? Both are of Mexican descent, that's a start. Maria may not be the best LPGA player yet; but she's already the longest off the tee. She averaged 292 yards at KPMG, longer than Anne Van Dam (286) and Lexi (282).
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Post by HappyFan on Jun 24, 2019 22:10:06 GMT
I absolutely cannot see what everyone seems to see in Maria Fassi. Being a college star is worth absolutely nothing. The history of the tour is littered with college stars who accomplished nothing as pros. Being long just makes her one dimensional; what else ya got? She doesn't have any charisma that I can see, and is kinda plain looking to be honest. And she isn't even American, and I thought that was sooooo important to the fans?
Personally, I bet Florida HQ is hoping like heck that Alex Pano becomes the star she looks like she'll be. I doubt she'll even bother with college golf, like most real stars these days.
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Post by HappyFan on Jun 24, 2019 22:14:02 GMT
Holy crap, Fassi looks GRUESOME in that photo from the article. Really, that's the star that will save the LPGA? She looks like Scott Bakula Quantum Leapt into her body...
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Post by 18majors on Jun 24, 2019 22:37:27 GMT
I absolutely cannot see what everyone seems to see in Maria Fassi. Being a college star is worth absolutely nothing. The history of the tour is littered with college stars who accomplished nothing as pros. Being long just makes her one dimensional; what else ya got? She doesn't have any charisma that I can see, and is kinda plain looking to be honest. And she isn't even American, and I thought that was sooooo important to the fans? Personally, I bet Florida HQ is hoping like heck that Alex Pano becomes the star she looks like she'll be. I doubt she'll even bother with college golf, like most real stars these days. No doubt, Alexa Pano will be bigger than Maria Fassi. But it will be a while before Alexa turns pro; she's born in 2004 and will only turn 15 this year.
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Post by HappyFan on Jun 24, 2019 22:41:38 GMT
OK, I read the article.
Personally, I think the stupidest thing the LPGA has done since I've been watching is fixate on the idea of one superstar coming in to save them. That's what stuck us with watching Michelle Wie shoot 22 over par on Friday. And the writer seems convinced that Wie was the answer, if only she were healthy, if only she were more motivated, if only, if only... and I don't buy that at all (although media types everywhere have drunk that Kool Aid).
Sure, if someone like that comes along, great. But what if she doesn't? Or what if she's fragile? Or not very consistent? Or just decides not to play that often? Or openly says she would get bored focusing on the LPGA and wants to join the PGA (yeah, we remember when you said that, Michelle... and that after all the freebies thrown your way by the ladies tour. Thanks a lot!). It's harebrained to stake your entire league on anyone.
And it isn't necessary. Right now there are easily two dozen women who are appealing enough and good enough to be attractions on tour. The real question should be, how do they get those women exposed so that they can attract fans?
I'll admit I don't know what the answer is, but I do believe that depending on male golf fans to be open minded enough to accept the women is a non-starter. They need to think outside the box and look for fans in places other than country clubs and retirement homes.
And thanks, Suzy Whaley, for choosing to play your round with Fassi and annointing her the next big thing. Thanks for ignoring the player who just won the US Women's Open a few weeks ago and is an actual big thing NOW. Sheesh.
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Post by HappyFan on Jun 24, 2019 22:44:32 GMT
I absolutely cannot see what everyone seems to see in Maria Fassi. Being a college star is worth absolutely nothing. The history of the tour is littered with college stars who accomplished nothing as pros. Being long just makes her one dimensional; what else ya got? She doesn't have any charisma that I can see, and is kinda plain looking to be honest. And she isn't even American, and I thought that was sooooo important to the fans? Personally, I bet Florida HQ is hoping like heck that Alex Pano becomes the star she looks like she'll be. I doubt she'll even bother with college golf, like most real stars these days. No doubt, Alexa Pano will be bigger than Maria Fassi. But it will be a while before Alexa turns pro; she's born in 2004 and will only turn 15 this year. By the time Wie was 15 they were already changing LPGA rules just to get her into more tournaments. Never too early for them to lose their minds!
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Post by 18majors on Jun 24, 2019 22:54:49 GMT
No doubt, Alexa Pano will be bigger than Maria Fassi. But it will be a while before Alexa turns pro; she's born in 2004 and will only turn 15 this year. By the time Wie was 15 they were already changing LPGA rules just to get her into more tournaments. Never too early for them to lose their minds! Alexa is scheduled to play Thornberry Creek next week.
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Post by philknj on Jun 24, 2019 23:48:43 GMT
Mi Hyang taking a rip during the pro-am...was the commentary about her swing or about her? The correct answer is BOTH!
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Post by don on Jun 25, 2019 0:30:01 GMT
I liked seeing Sung Hyun Park in the scorer’s tent. Most of the time on the course (and what the public sees on tv) she comes across as cold and unapproachable. That smile after Green won showed a different, warmer side of her. It was a nice smile in the scorers area. She will smile and wave if you say hello or cheer.
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Post by don on Jun 25, 2019 0:35:18 GMT
The best thing about all the 4 cap white belt chuds telling the LPGA how to run their business is that they don’t need any of them.
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Post by verdantgarden on Jun 26, 2019 1:59:29 GMT
I was totally wrong about Hannah Green. She overcame the pressure to win.
I was mostly wrong about Ariya. She hung in there for about half the round and then collapsed. A former no. 1 shouldn't be doing that.
I was almost right about Sung Hyun. She really rises to the occasion.
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Post by philknj on Jun 26, 2019 3:21:41 GMT
I first saw Fassi on the range at Lancaster...with her name and certain colors on her bag, I didn't know if she was Italian or Mexican. It seems I was wrong on both counts...per Nichols, Sirak, Mell and the rest of the GIC, Fassi is a 'Murican.
Whan's comments are usually slick and well-crafted, but he sure had an off-week at this event. WTH, he turns into Diana Murphy when he tries to pronounce Jin Young Ko?! Also, where's he getting 39 weeks from? Even the JLPGA doesn't play 39 weeks (yet). Plus, it's actually an insult to say it will take you 39 weeks to love your #1 player...it took me far less time to make up my mind: The New Ko is a ho-hum goody-two shoes...the one exception being her fascination with Cupcake, the dullest personality on the PGA Tour. After her broken English improves, it's possible she'll be a better interview than Minjee Lee one day (which isn't saying much). On the other hand, you don't need 39 minutes to be captivated by Lucky 6, who built up a golf resume from NOTHING.
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